Legalization By State

Marijuana, also known as Cannabis, is illegal under federal law in the United States for any purpose, by way of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. At the state level, however, policies regarding the medical and recreational use of marijuana vary greatly, and in many states conflict significantly with federal law. Additionally, under the Controlled Substances Act, marijuana is classified as a Schedule I substance, determined to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use – thereby prohibiting even medical use of the drug. However, with a doctor’s recommendation, not a prescription, the medical use of marijuana is legal in certain states while in other states the recreational use of cannabis is legal allowing for its commercial distribution. Below is our map detailing which states have legalized marijuana for medical purposes and recreationally, which states have legalized just for medical purposes, and which states have not legalized the schedule I substance.